SURF TRIP TIPS / 5 PLANNING TIPS EVERY SURFER SHOULD KNOW

Surf trips are the absolute best. But there’s definitely some extra work involved when it comes to planning the perfect surf trip. From researching surf destinations, to board bag fees, to swell info, planning a trip around waves involves a whole lot more than your average getaway.

After surf-tripping around the world for a year, we’ve learned a few things—sometimes the hard way— about how to plan, make the most of surf trips, and avoid anything that might reduce your time in the water. Here are our top surf trip tips that will make your next surf trip the best one yet!

1 • RESEARCH BOARD BAG FEES BEFORE YOU BOOK YOUR FLIGHT

This is a big one. If you plan to bring boards on your surf trip, make sure to confirm airline charges for board bags before you book your airfare. Sometimes the lowest airfare you find won’t have the best policy for board bags and you’ll end up paying more than you expected. The last thing you want to do is get to the airport and find out the airline wants to charge you the price of a new surfboard to check your board bag.

Always research the cost of board bag fees online, and then follow up with a call to the airline to confirm the rate. We learned this the hard way when an airline robbed us because they said they hadn’t updated their website with the new surfboard bag policy. Not cool. And when you’re faced with paying a crazy fee or missing your flight, you have no choice.

Anyway, always double check policies before you book your flight so you know the total price of your airfare plus your bag fees. Check out our Guide to Surfboard Bag Fees for the lowdown on the best airlines for board bags fees.

2 • DO YOUR HOMEWORK

Doing a healthy dose of research before your trip is priceless. Know the costs, get to know the lay of the land, read up on some surf breaks you’re interested in, plan how to get around, and make sure you know the basics so you have an idea of what to expect and what you need to pack.

Are you staying as close as possible to surf breaks? What’s the water temperature? How remote is your destination? Are there any surf shops around for ding repair or supplies? What extra equipment do you need? Will you need to take a boat to surf breaks?

The more you know, the fewer surprises you’ll encounter and the more time you can spend in the water.

3 • CHOOSE YOUR SURF DESTINATION WISELY

Make sure your destination has surf breaks that suit your surf ability. The last thing you want is to plan an epic surf trip only to learn when you get there that you have no business being in the overhead powerful reef breaks on offer. For example, surfing Samoa is not for beginners and I wouldn’t recommend it to any beginners or people learning to surf. Do your research so your destination matches your ability and you’re not scrambling to find the right breaks when you’re already there.

Be realistic about your surf ability and pick your surf destination accordingly. And along those same lines, pick your season wisely as well. Swells and waves change depending on the time of year, so a place that is ideal for intermediates at one time of year might be better for advanced surfers at another. Do plenty of research in the planning phase of your surf trips so you have the best chance at matching your surf ability and scoring as many waves as possible.

4 • SHOULDER SEASONS RULE

To avoid the largest crowds and score lower prices, consider traveling in the shoulder (or low) season instead of the peak season. Peak season will always bring the highest prices and most people, so hitting the time in between low and peak seasons can be a great time to schedule a trip. If you want to save money, avoid traveling over major holidays, especially Christmas and New Years, as they almost always have the highest prices.

5 • VISAS ARE FOR REALZ

Researching details like visa requirements are in the realm of ‘least fun things to do’ when planning a trip, but necessary nonetheless. Research visa requirements for your destination. This especially applies for trips that are 30 days or longer, but even for short trips, you need to know what’s up. Some countries will slap you with a healthy (e.g. horrible) fine for overstaying your visa and you can even get blacklisted from the country if you overstay a long period of time without a valid visa.

 And Many More...

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